About Us

The Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County (formerly the Cape Breton Literacy Network) was organized in 1989 by the Nova Scotia Department of Education’s Adult Education Coordinator and has been sponsoring community based adult upgrading classes since 1993.

Our organization’s new name is Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County. For several years there had been rumblings that students did not like the word “literacy” in our name. During the fall and winter of 2004-2005, staff, students and volunteers engaged in the process of re-naming.

On February 24, 2005 a special General Meeting of the Cape Breton Literacy Network took place at the Sydney location. During this meeting there was a special resolution of the members of the Society that the name of the Society be changed from: Cape Breton Literacy Network to Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County. On March 11, 2005 our proposed new name was made official by the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.

Basic funding for ALACBC programs is provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Education through the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL). The Department of Education is responsible to establish the guidelines which must be met by ALACBC programs and to ensure that these guidelines are followed.

ALACBC works closely with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board and the Marconi Campus of the NSCC, to offer the full range of NSSAL programming to local adult learners.

The Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County is registered with Nova Scotia Joint Stocks as a non-profit society and is also a federally registered charitable organization.

The Association responds to the learning needs of adults by delivering community based adult literacy and upgrading programming in Cape Breton County.

The ALACBC’s free community based classes are open to any adult 19 or over who has been out of school for 1 year and who wants to improve his/her reading, writing and math skills. The classes are small (fewer than 15 students) and learner centred. There is a continuous entry and exit policy. Students are informally assessed to determine their skill levels and helped to identify their learning goals. Qualified teachers follow the Nova Scotia Adult Learning Program in all classes. Completion of Level Two of the Program can lead to further educational opportunities at either the Nova Scotia Community College or the Adult High School. The ALACBC adheres to the Standards for Community Based Adult Literacy Programs which have been developed by the Nova Scotia Department of Education. The enhanced skills and self esteem that result from the development of literacy lead to an improved quality of life for the learner and his/her family because literacy encourages participation in all aspects of our society.

In June of 2004, the Adult Learning Association moved the Learning Centre to 28 Hillview Avenue in Sydney. The Learning Centre provides three classroom spaces as well as a resource centre and space for administrative offices. The ALACBC also has locations in Glace Bay, New Waterford and North Sydney.

Staff

Currently, the Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County is a service provider that employs qualified staff who deliver services in Cape Breton County. All bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Association.

The Adult Learning Association administrative and instructional staff all participate in the Tutor and Instructor Training and Certification Program of the Nova Scotia Department of Education along with on-going Professional Development. Staff use a wide variety of teaching approaches, learning activities and resource materials appropriate for working with adults who want to improve their reading, writing, math and critical thinking skills.

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